At the EU level

59th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, dedicated to Beijing+20 (9-20 March 2015)

Posted on 16 March 2015 |

[New York, 15 March 2015] The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) was very active during the first week of the 59th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59). This yearly meeting of UN governments to discuss women’s rights was dedicated to the celebration of the 20 years of the Beijing Platform for Action. You will find here a summary of the activities of the EWL during this CSW59.
Women’s organisations disappointed by the UN governments’ weak commitment
On the first day of CSW59, (...)
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EWL press statement

Posted on 26 February 2015 |

[Brussels, 26 February 2015] One year ago, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted a historic resolution on ‘Prostitution and sexual exploitation and its impact on gender equality’, also called the ‘Honeyball resolution’ . Supported by a large cross-party majority, the resolution sent a strong signal that urgent action is required at European level to end this pervasive violation of women’s and girls’ human rights.
Several MEPs in this new term are calling on the European Commission (...)
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Inspiring event of the EWL and the Mission of Norway to the EU

Posted on 11 December 2014 |

[Brussels, 10 December 2014] On Monday 8 December, more than 120 persons reached out to the welcoming meeting room of the Mission of Norway to the EU, to discuss the Nordic model as an inspiration for the realisation of gender equality.
This event, co-organised by the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) and the Norway Mission, came 3 months after the evaluation of the Norwegian law on prostitution, and aimed at feeding into the European discussion on women’s rights, at the eve of the 20 years of (...)
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[Cape Town, South Africa, 24 November 2014] To celebrate the start of 16 days of activism to end violence against women, South African activists and NGO representatives met in Cape Town to discuss challenges and opportunities to ally and make a change towards a society free from male violence. The event has been proposed by Embrace Dignity, an organisation supporting victims of trafficking and prostitution, and with whom the European Women’s Lobby works.
The South African Constitution, (...)
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European Women’s Lobby calls for a Europe free from violence against women & girls!

Posted on 25 November 2014 |

[Brussels 25 November] Every year on November 25, under the lead of the United Nations, activists around the world join forces for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. They want to raise awareness and trigger action to end the global pandemic of violence against women and girls, which is unmistakably the most widespread violation of women’s human rights.
For the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) this day also signifies a moment to look backwards and forwards in (...)
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Co-organised by the EWL and the Mission of Norway to the EU

Posted on 22 November 2014 |

[Brussels, 20 November 2014] The issue of violence against women, prostitution and women’s human rights has been high on the agenda this year in the broader Europe: the European Parliament has adopted a resolution qualifying prostitution as a violation of human rights and promoting the Nordic model in order to reach gender equality and protect women and girls. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has adopted a similar resolution acknowledging the links between prostitution and (...)
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Successful first international abolitionist congress sees launch of international mobilisation of parliamentarians

Posted on 14 November 2014 |

[Paris, 13 novembre 2014] The French National Assembly hosted on 12 November the first International Abolitionist Congress, gathering decision-makers, activists, NGO representatives, trade unions, survivors and citizens committed to the abolition of the system of prostitution and the realisation of equality between women and men.
Organised by CAP International (Coalition for the Abolition of Prostitution), a network of frontline organisations working at assisting and supporting persons in (...)
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[Brussels, 11 November 2014] From 5 to 7 December, the city of Munich will gather dozens of activists, decision-makers, survivors and artists, calling for a society free from prostitution. The international Congress for the Abolition of prostitution "Stop Sexkauf" is organised by the women’s organisations KOFRA, NetzwerkB, SPACE International and Abolition2014, and supported by more than 25 organisations from all over Europe and beyond.
The Congress will gather speakers from different (...)
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[Brussels, 1 October 2013] Today, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) gathered for a joint press event in the European Parliament, to express their view that prostitution is an obstacle to equality between women and men and a violation of human rights. Coming from different countries and all major political groups in the European Parliament, 53 MEPs all have signed the Brussels’ Call ‘Together for a Europe free from prostitution’.
Initiated by the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) and its (...)
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[Brussels, 7 February 2013] Trafficking in women and prostitution will be two issues that the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) is going to discuss while in New York, during the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
EWL President Viviane Teitelbaum has been invited to speak at a European Commission’s side event on "Trafficking of women and girls as a form of violence against women: the EU response", on Wednesday 6th March 2012, from 11:30 to 12:45 am, in Room D.
On Wednesday 6 (...)
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